We all know that if you are in a car accident you should notify the police to come to the scene to take a report.
There may be some rare exceptions if there truly is no damage involved, but it’s almost always a good idea to contact the police to be on the safe side.
But do you really know how much information is in a typical police report in Kentucky?
If you have been in an automotive accident, it is important to know how to read a police report.
What’s in a Police Report
A typical police report contains all kinds of information, including (but not limited to):
- Investigating law enforcement agency
- Identity and badge number of the investigating officer
- Date and time of the collision
- Where the collision took place
- Speed limit where the accident occurred
- Details of the roadway – straight, curve, local, rural, etc
- Any traffic control devices – stop light, stop sign, caution light, etc.
- Whether first aid was called to the scene
- Whether anyone was transported to the hospital
- If photos were taken
- Passengers involved
- Eyewitnesses
- For each of the drivers:
- Name
- Address
- Vehicle information
- Insurance information
- Action at time of collision
- Speed
- Area of contact
- Contributing factors
- Suspected of drinking?
- Vehicle towed?
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CAR ACCIDENT?
Discuss your case with one of our Louisville car accident attorneys during a free consultation.
Reading Codes
Kentucky accident reports also include codes that categorize the crash.
You will need a Code Sheet, which you can find online, to interpret the codes for each driver or passenger involved in an accident. Among other things, the codes tell you:
- Where each person was sitting in the vehicle;
- If they had their seatbelt on;
- If the vehicle contained an airbag and whether or not it deployed;
- And whether each person was injured, and if so, where and how severely they were injured.
Often times the officer will indicate which party he or she believed to be at fault for the accident.
In Kentucky, the driver believed to be at fault is usually listed as the driver of “Unit 1.”
More serious accident reports can be much more involved than just this basic information.
Get Help Reading Your Kentucky Uniform Police Traffic Collision Report
If you’ve been in a recent accident and have a copy of the police report, please feel free to contact our office and we will be glad to assist you.
Do You Need a Copy of Your Accident Report?
If you don’t have a copy of the police report and would like to get a copy, we will get a copy for you at no charge to you.
Do you have questions about a potential personal injury claim? Contact our office for a free consultation today.
RATE THIS POST
Loading...